Bootle Labour MP Peter Dowd is stepping down from his role as councillor on Sefton Council, a role he has served for the past quarter of a century.

Cllr Dowd, a former leader of the authority, took part in his last ever council meeting at Bootle Town Hall on Thursday evening as Sefton Council set its annual budget for 2015/16.

Paying tribute to his colleague, current Sefton Council leader Cllr Ian Maher said: “The most significant act of Peter’s role on Sefton Council was in 2012 when he led Labour for the first time in gaining overall control of Sefton Council.

“That was no mean feat.

“I would like to wish Peter all the best in his future career as MP for Bootle.”

Peter Dowd was first elected to office in Sefton on December 5, 1991.

He currently represents St Oswalds Ward in Netherton, a role he held in conjunction with serving for the past few months as MP for Bootle, where he won his eat on May 7 last year.

Cllr Dowd trumphed in 2015 with a 74% share of the vote and 33,619 votes, trouncing UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall, who gained 4.915 (11%) of the vote.

He said: “I have been a councillor in Sefton for just shy of 25 years so I have spent an awful long time in local government.”

He leaves at a challenging time for Sefton, with the council having raised Council Tax by 3.99% during its Budget last week, with severe cuts in funding by central government, and facing a £64.4million budget shortfall between now and 2020.

He said: “Local government is facing its most challengng time since I entered politics.”